Manchester United vs Everton LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today

Andros Townsend’s equaliser cancelled out Anthony Martial’s opener to ensure Rafa Benitez’s side left Old Trafford with a point

Solskjaer on Utd improvements ahead of Everton

Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Everton on Saturday after Andros Townsend’s equaliser cancelled out Anthony Martial’s opener for the home side.

United, who began with Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba on the bench, took the lead two minutes before the break when Bruno Fernandes set up Martial and the Frenchman’s slightly deflected shot flashed past Jordan Pickford.

But Everton caught United out on the break to draw level in the 65th minute -- the impressive Demarai Gray working the ball to Abdoulaye Doucoure, who found Townsend to drill home a low shot.

The visitors looked to have grabbed a late winner when Tom Davies’ low ball was turned in by Yerry Mina, but United were handed a reprieve by a VAR review that judged the goal to be offside.

There was a late chance for United’s Jadon Sancho, played in by a back-heel from substitute Ronaldo, but his shot was easily dealt with by Pickford.

Manchester United vs Everton

• Martial fires United into lead
• Townsend hammers Everton equaliser after fine counter-attack
• Mina goal ruled out for offside as United survive thanks to VAR

[2 October 2021 11:26 · Jack Rathborn]

Mason Greenwood: Southgate admits United striker’s call-up ‘maybe too early’

Gareth Southgate has admitted that he may have called Mason Greenwood up too early in his career after the Manchester United youngster was once again omitted from the England squad.

The 20-year-old has not represented England at any level since making his senior debut against Iceland in September of last year.

Greenwood was subsequently sent home from that camp, along with Manchester City’s Phil Foden, for breaching Covid-19 protocols and the bio-secure bubble at the team’s Reykjavik hotel.

Southgate included Greenwood in England’s provisional European Championship squad during the summer, only for him to withdraw through injury before the final cut.

[2 October 2021 11:21 · Jack Rathborn]

Sancho does not deserve England place on Manchester United form, Southgate admits

Gareth Southgate has offered to help Jadon Sancho adapt to the Premier League after his challenging start to life as a Manchester United player, though admitted his inclusion in the latest England squad is potentially undeserved.

Sancho completed his long-awaited £73m move to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund following his involvement with England at the European Championship this summer but is yet score or assist for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

The 21-year-old was included in the England squad for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary despite Southgate admitting that Sancho’s form was “probably not” worthy of an international recall.

[2 October 2021 11:12 · Jack Rathborn]

Ronaldo fires crucial winner to bail out United against Villarreal in Champions League

There are questions, perhaps, about whether Cristiano Ronaldo improves Manchester United on the whole, whether it was a necessary signing or what this perplexing team really requires, but the first Champions League crowd at Old Trafford in two-and-half years was not asking them last night.

Instead, they were only chanting “Viva Ronaldo”, long after a stoppage-time winner to salvage a less than perfect performance and make United’s prospects of progressing from Group F suddenly look much rosier. This is why he came back and why did everything to bring him home.

Three defeats in four made three points imperative but perhaps we should have known the script all along. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has developed a knack of extracting himself out of these ruts as soon as he falls into them. When he needs a result, the United manager tends to get one. For an hour of this rematch with Villarreal, that looked remote.

[2 October 2021 11:06 · Jack Rathborn]

Manchester United to test strength of Everton’s early progress under Rafa Benitez

This is where the season gets tough for Rafa Benitez. Everton go to Old Trafford to play Manchester United tomorrow after a relatively soft start to the season.

Benitez’s side are on the same number of points as United but have so far faced only one team that finished above them last year. As positive as their start has been, the Spaniard will not be judged by victories over the likes of Norwich City. Evertonians, who are naturally suspicious of the former Liverpool boss, will only truly accept the 61-year-old if he is able to compete with the so-called Big Six. Especially as three of that self-aggrandising sextet have the look of wounded animals about them.

The Everton manager has plenty of history with United. They were the target of “Rafa’s Rant”, which in reality was a remarkably composed attack on Sir Alex Ferguson’s influence on English football. Benitez also said he would never manage United, a statement made in the understanding that he would never be offered the job (Chelsea and Everton were on the verboten list at various points, too). Even so, Old Trafford is a place where he relishes winning.

[2 October 2021 10:58 · Jack Rathborn]

Solskjaer understands Van de Beek’s frustration

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted that he understands Donny van de Beek’s frustrations with his limited amount of playing time at Manchester United.

Van de Beek was pictured angrily throwing a piece of chewing gum after not being chosen to come on as a substitute while United were searching for a late winner in Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Villarreal.

The Netherlands international has only made four Premier League starts since joining in a £40m move from Ajax and has not made two consecutive starts in any competition since last November.

[2 October 2021 10:47 · Jack Rathborn]

Solskjaer unhappy with Wan-Bissaka and De Bruyne inconsistency

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Aaron Wan-Bissaka has fallen victim to refereeing inconsistency after the Manchester United full back was handed an additional one-game ban for his Champions League sending off against Young Boys last month.

Wan-Bissaka was suspended for Wednesday’s dramatic 2-1 win over Villarreal at Old Trafford and will miss Atalanta’s visit later this month after his punishment for receiving a straight red card in Bern was extended.

Solskjaer was unhappy to learn that he would be without his first-choice right back for another European game, particularly after Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne was merely cautioned for a similar challenge in his side’s 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week.

De Bruyne was only shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Idrissa Gueye, despite missing the ball and coming down on the PSG midfielder’s shin.

[2 October 2021 10:47 · Jack Rathborn]

Manchester United vs Everton: Team news

The fitness of two defenders may necessitate two alterations for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Maguire has been ruled out for several weeks after suffering a calf injury, while Luke Shaw missed their midweek action after going off against Aston Villa.

Shaw may be fit to retake his place at left-back, with Victor Lindelof likely to again partner Raphael Varane in the heart of the defence. Marcus Rashford is expected to return from his injury lay-off after the international break.

Everton are likely to continue to be without both Seamus Coleman and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, though the pair returned to individual training this week. Richarlison remains absent, while Andre Gomes also did not train after missing last weekend’s win over Norwich.

Midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin has had a torrid time with injury since his arrival on Merseyside in 2019 but is moving closer to a return.

[2 October 2021 10:46 · Jack Rathborn]

Manchester United vs Everton: Predicted line-ups

Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Varane, Telles; McTominay, Pogba; Greenwood, Fernandes, Sancho; Ronaldo

Everton: Pickford; Godfrey, Mina, Keane, Digne; Allan, Doucoure; Townsend, Gray, Iwobi; Rondon

[2 October 2021 10:46 · Jack Rathborn]

[2 October 2021 10:46 · Jack Rathborn]

Manchester United vs Everton: Odds

Manchester United - 9/20

Draw - 10/3

Everton - 13/2